August 2026 Meeting Highlights
The Board of Directors would like to share these highlights:
1. Summer Efforts and Back-to-School Prep
During the August board meeting, much of our time was spent reviewing and celebrating extensive summer efforts on campus. The team returned early for staff development and committee work in preparation for the year. In addition to their standard planning and projects, two main focus areas for teachers included Positive Behavior Supports and Interventions (PBIS) and Re-grounding in Core Knowledge.
Team Highlights:
Our facilities team was hard at work replacing stairs, updating bleachers, installing turf, deep cleaning buildings, and completing a very long to-do list. The technology team worked against the clock on critical camera installations, server updates, and replacement of all staff computers in addition to their standard summer check-list. Our PTO, with significant support from Melissa Veronesi, invested hours of time finalizing and overseeing completion of the outdoor education space. The result is a beautiful and serene area for learning, reading, and connecting. Many thanks to all who participated in the PTO fundraiser last year! Several students enjoyed some time on campus as well through the first-ever Leopard Care summer camp and Mrs. Newsom’s outstanding band camps and concerts for beginners and advanced middle schoolers. Driving past, it may have seemed quiet this summer on campus, but great things were happening!
Board would like to share our gratitude with those involved in these highlights as well as all staff members who worked so hard to prepare for the return of students.
Facilities Team: Norm Meindl, Amy Quadros, Joe McGuire, Brenda Guenther, and Cat Sweet
Technology Team: Melissa Courtney, Emily Kil, Marty Nishida, Debbie McNutt, Rebecca Manguso, Micheal Johnson, and Micah Pistol
Leopard Care Team: Alysha Sidlar, Tabitha Martinez, Isaac Courtney, Connor Woods, and Rebecca Manguso
PTO: Melissa Veronesi, Highlands Landscaping, and everyone involved with the spring fundraiser
Music: Jessie Newsom
Please see the Executive Directors’ report for details.
2. Strategic Plan Status Update
A new strategic plan was released one year ago and board plans to update the community on progress toward our goals. This is a three-year plan that is revisited each year to measure and assess progress and adjust course as needed. The team is targeting an update at the September meeting on the 22nd at 6:30pm.
To learn more, visit our Board webpage to listen to the recording and review the written reports.